India-based Ford Global Business Services operation to be integrated with product development on the modern 28-acre campus opening in early 2019

New environmentally friendly campus will utilize solar panels, rainwater collection tanks, and heat and water recovery systems; employees will have access to facilities including a canteen, a fitness center, yoga classes, medical services and childcare

Ford Motor Company today announced plans for a green and modern new Global Technology and Business Center in Chennai that will serve as a hub for product development, mobility solutions and business services for India and other markets around the world.

Chennai facility to become Ford’s second-largest center of employment globally

Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford, visiting Chennai for the announcement, said the automaker will invest $195 million (Rs. 1,300 crore) and hire 3,000 skilled workers over the next five years to fully staff the new center. Ford also will consolidate 9,000 employees from six existing facilities in Chennai on the 28-acre campus. With 12,000 employees in total, the Chennai facility will become Ford’s second-largest center of employment globally after Dearborn, Mich., U.S.

"India is not only a vibrant market for cars and new mobility ideas, it also is rich with talent, technical expertise and ingenuity" Bill Ford said.

"This new center will help us attract the best and brightest, and make Chennai a true hub of innovation for Ford around the world."

Expected to be completed by early 2019

The Ford Global Technology and Business Center in Chennai will become Ford’s third global product development center in Asia Pacific and part of Ford’s global product development network and is expected to be completed by early 2019. As well as housing engineering talent, the campus will be home to employees from IT, finance, accounting, data analytics and manufacturing.

The center will employ Indian engineers, scientists and skilled workers. It also will feature a wide range of laboratories and testing facilities for both full vehicles and components, enabling Ford to conduct extensive testing of future vehicles in India.

"This is an exciting day for Ford and Chennai, and it underscores the bright future we are creating together" said Dave Schoch, president, Ford Asia Pacific.

"We want to express our deepest gratitude to the Tamil Nadu government and Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha for working with Ford over many years to make this vision a reality."